Richard Larn

Richard Larn OBE was a renowned British Chief Petty Officer, businessman, and prolific author widely regarded as the father of modern shipwreck research in the UK and one of Britain's leading historic shipwreck experts. He dedicated 67 years to diving, authored over 65 well-researched books on maritime history including a six-volume guide documenting 45,000 wrecks, and assembled one of the largest collections of shipwreck artifacts in the country. Larn passed away on January 14, 2026, at the age of 94 or 95, leaving behind a legacy that sparked a surge of interest in diving and maritime archaeology.